Maintenance & Care Instructions

We always advise our customers of their maintenance obligations to keep there floor looking well, up-to-scratch! Our care instructions, maintenance plan and products not only help you clean your floor but bring them back to life when wear and tear are apparent (or recoating is not an option).

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:Coatings generally take between 24 – 48 hours to dry, but they will take approximately 7 – 14 days to fully harden. It is important to follow these guidelines:

When necessary you can walk on the floor in stocking feet after 24 hours (or depending on advice from tradesmen).

Avoid walking on the surface with street shoes for 7 days.

90% of the curing takes place after 24 hours, but care should be taken for the first 2 weeks until the floor has fully hardened.

Use protective felt pads, and avoid dragging furniture as it may scratch the surface.

Heavy items such as fridges should be moved careful ensuring they are not dragged over new floors.

Wait 2 weeks before laying rugs.

MAINTENANCE PLAN (GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL FINISHES):Please note that this is general information for all finishes. If in doubt, please contact our staff to receive advice on which maintenance program will suit your floor. For a list of products we recommend, click here.

Use MatsShoes carry sand, grit and small stones which will abrade the floor surface in the same way that sandpaper does. Place mats at entrances and where possible place a mat on the inside as well as outside. Use runners and rugs in high traffic areas.

Direct SunlightLike any quality furnishings or floor covering in your home, direct sunlight will cause discolouring over time. To avoid fading and discolouring, filter direct sunlight with curtains or blinds.

Maintenance planThe most important thing you can do to keep your floor looking like new is to establish a regular maintenance/cleaning program. Just how regularly you need to maintain/clean the floor is totally dependent on the environment the floor is in. Factors such as the level of traffic, the degree of grit carried onto the floor, pets and children, the condition of the immediate outside area, etc… all have significant influence on the wear of the floor.

Daily, weekly & monthlyRegular timber floor care can be done with an anti-static dust mop as it is an effective method to collect dust and dirt. Some people opt to sweep or vacuum their floor – generally we recommend against vacuum cleaners because often the brushes on the vacuum head wear thin and the floor is scratched by the metal. If you choose to use a vacuum, we recommend that a soft head vacuum cleaner is used.

Timber floors can also benefit from a damp mopping on a fortnightly to monthly basis. This provides an effective deep clean and should be undertaken with a neutral PH wood floor cleaner or a product recommended by the finish manufacturer. Steam cleaning is not recommended as it can cause finishes to peel, whiten and/or cloud.

Only use cleaners that are recommended by your timber floor manufacturer as coating properties vary widely between timber floors. As a general rule, NEVER use bleaches, harsh detergents, abrasive cleaners, turpentine, kerosene, steel wool or abrasive cloths on your wooden floors.

PERIODIC RECOATING:Following a regular maintenance program will preserve the life of your hardwood floor for years. A hardwood floor should be recoated when the original finish is showing signs of wear but before it has worn down to the bare wood. Bare wood will be stained by dirt and grime and will need to be re-sanded.